Tango is not just a fascinating dance—it is a rich philosophy, culture, and way of life. The search of tango is the search of connection, love, fellowship, unity, harmony, and beauty—an idealism that is not consistent with the dehumanizing reality of the modern world. The world divides us into individuals, but tango brings us together as a team. In tango we are not individualists, feminists, nationalists, Democrats, or Republicans—we are simply human, intertwined and interdependent. Tango invites us to tear down walls, build bridges, and rediscover our shared humanity through connection, cooperation, accommodation, and compromise. It is a dance that reminds the world how to love.

January 17, 2024

Paola Tacchetti


Zhou Dunyi (1017–1073), a Confucian scholar of the Northern Song Dynasty (960–1127), wrote a beautiful essay titled On the Love of the Lotus. Below is an English translation:

"There are many kinds of lovely flowers and plants. Tao Yuanming of the Jin Dynasty loved only chrysanthemums. Since the Tang Dynasty, admiration for peonies has become fashionable. But my favorite is the lotus: it emerges from the mud unstained, bathed by clear waters yet never coquettish. A symbol of purity, modesty, and perfection, it stands serenely, its fragrance spreading far and wide—something to be revered from a distance, not to be sullied. To me, the chrysanthemum is the hermit among flowers, the peony the aristocrat, and the lotus the true gentleman. Alas, few have loved the chrysanthemum since Tao Yuanming, and none love the lotus as I do. The peony, however, is adored by many."

This passage came to mind the first time I saw Paola Tacchetti dance tango. It was many years ago in Buenos Aires. She was still very young then, dancing socially at Salon Canning. Amid a crowd of seasoned dancers, she stood out—like a lotus rising gracefully above the water. Her partner, a well-known milonguero, kissed her hand after their dance, a gesture of admiration that left a lasting impression on me.

I was reminded of the essay again recently while watching some old videos of Paola dancing from that same period. Her style captivated me then, and it still does now. She dances with an effortless authenticity, free of pretense. There is a quiet, intrinsic beauty in her movement—one that stands in stark contrast to the contrived and showy trends so common today. Such innocence in tango is rare nowadays.








Tango reflects a dancer's character, values, aesthetic sensibilities, and taste. True beauty is like the lotus—gentlemanly in spirit: natural, simple, modest, and sincere, never ostentatious or arrogant. I hope Zhou Dunyi’s words might inspire more dancers to embody this spirit, just as Paola Tacchetti does—especially in our current age of spectacle and artifice.



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